Cap lock



J. J. SARRAZIN CAP LOCK Filed May 21. 1928 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES JULES' J. SARRA ZIN, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA CAP LOCK Application filed May 21, 1928. Serial No. 279,542.

My invention relates to improvements in closure fasteners and more specifically to a novel and improved means for preventing unauthorized removal of the caps or closures of the gasoline tanks of automobiles and the like.

Briefly stated, the invention has for its primary object to provide a device for the purpose stated which is very simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and which is adapted to be applied to the body of the car, aeroplane or other vehicle without in any way detracting from the appearance of the same.

A further object is to furnish a device, as stated, which may be conveniently applied to automobiles and the like without in any way altering the standard construction thereof, and without necessitating the puncture 'of the fuel tank or in any way specially form ing or constructing the tank to provide a mounting for the device.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts,and in modes of operation, all of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art as the description proceeds,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings. As required by the patent statutes, I have illustrated and described hereinafter the now preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the same is capable of other mechanicalexpres sion within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designatethe same parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to an automobile;

Figure 2 is a group perspective view showing the parts disassembled;

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the body wall in section and showing the means for attaching the device within the vehicle body and beneath the rear seat; and

Figure 4 is a cross section through the bearing and cylinder.

the bolts passing through holes in a keeper Referring specifically to the drawing, the vehicle body is denoted at 1, the gastank at 2, and the lock-supporting base plate at 3. The gas tank 2 is located closely adjacent and slightly under the rear end of the body Wall 1 as usual. The tank 2 is shown provided with the filler neck 4 and screw cap or closure 5. It is to be noted that the filler neck is short and that the cap 5 is adapted to screw down into substantial contact with thetan'k so as to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Base plate 3 has projecting from its outer,- face a bearing member? comprising a sleeve having a transverse slot 7 a in which is journalled the lock cylinder 8. The lock 55 cylinder 8 has, intermediate its ends, the laterally extending arm 9 Which is adapted to press upon the top of the tank cap 5 to hold the latter against unauthorized removal as will be presently explained.-

Cylinder 8 has a key-operated locking pin 10 operating transversely therethrough and adapted to selectively engage one of a number of recesses 11 in bearing 7 so as to prevent rotation of cylinder 8 and maintain arm 9 in a predetermined position.

Base plate 3 is secured against the body wall 1 by means of bolts 12 extending through holes in the wall and base plate, the ends of plate at the inner face of the wall 1 and receiving nuts 14. The keeper plate is denoted at 13 in Figure 3. There are preferably two nuts on the inner end of each bolt, the outer nut 14 serving as a jam nut. Keeper plate 13 is of suflicient size to reinforce the wall 1 at the site of attachment and is preferably of the same size as the base plate 3. Both plates 3, 13 preferably have their wall-engagin g surfaces in conformity to the wall contour at the site of attachment. The heads of bolts 14 may be countersunk in plate 3 so as not to be conspicuous. I

The device can be readily applied by simply lifting out the rear seat cushion of the vehicles as is evident from Figure 3. Arm 9 can be locked in either an operative or inoperative position. This device can be used without any modification of the tank 2 or its cap ,5 and is particularly efie'ctive for the purusually require a lon tank neck and invar-- iably necessitate modification of the tank or %in 10 has a longitudinal slot 10 adapted to receive the thrust or cam key 8" insertible in keyway 8. Spring 10 hearing against the rear end of pin 10 and against the bottom of pin recess 8 normally urges the pin to engagement with the bearing 7 and intorecesses 11. Obviously, when the outer end of pin 10 is engaged in a recess 11, the lower end of pin slot 10 will be above the deepest portion of the lower or cam edge of key 8 but still low enough to be engaged by the pointed key end. Thus the pin 10 is retracted from a recess 11 by insertion of the key. The key and keyway are preferably of odd shaped cross section as shown and key slot 10 of the pin is over width to allow the pin 10 to slide trans-v versely under the action of the key.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a vehicle body having a tank carried thereby and a closure for said tank; of a lock device carried by the wall of said body above and adjacent the top of said tank, and said lock device having a portion movable to engage said closure to prevent unauthorized removal thereof.

2.'The combination with a vehicle body having a tank carried thereby and a closure for said tank; of a lock device carried by the wall of said body adjacent and above the plane of the tank top, said lock having aportion movable to engage said closure to prevent unauthorized removal thereof, and means within the body for securing said locking device securely against the outer surface of the body wall.

3. A device of the classdescribed comprising a base plate, a bearing projecting from one face thereof, alaterally extending tankcap-engaging arm journalled in said bearing,

locking means associated with said arm and bearing for holding the arm in a predetermined position, a keeper plate positionable within the wall ofva vehicle body, and fasteners extending through said base plate and keeper plate and secured to the latter to maintain the base plate in a predetermined position and in close contact with the outer wall surface.

4. A closure fastener comprising a base member, means for attaching the base member to the body of a car, said base member having a bearing projecting from one face, a cylinder working in saidbearing, an arm extending transversely from said cylinder and adapted to engage a tank closure cap, a lockfor said cylinder, and in having mterengaging portions where y said pin will be retracted on insertion of said operating means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I J. SARRAZIN.

and said operating means ing pin carried by said cylinder and normal- 

